Latest news with #Nunavut
CBC
a day ago
- Science
- CBC
Ship noise in Arctic silences narwhals, alters their movements, study says
New research on narwhals in Nunavut's Eclipse Sound suggests the animals may be more sensitive to shipping noise than scientists previously believed, and that they change their behaviour when ships are nearby. The study, published earlier this month in the journal Nature, says narwhal stop echolocating and will vacate an area when exposed to low-pitched ship noise. It also says the marine mammals are sensitive to sounds more than 20 kilometres away. "It seemed to be an understood fact prior to our research that narwhal were only affected in close range, but when you speak to the hunters and the elders, that's just not been the case," said Alex Ootoowak, a researcher from Pond Inlet, Nunavut, and one of the co-authors of the study. He is with the Oceans North acoustic monitoring program. The study backs up hunters' observations around mining projects in the region, such as the now-closed Nanisivik mine, and their belief that narwhals are more sensitive to shipping noise than existing marine shipping noise guidelines recognize, said Ootoowak. "People seem to appreciate that our research is proving what's long been understood and known here," said Ootoowak. The research will be used to assess and mitigate impacts of mine shipping, cruise ships and yachts trying to enter the Northwest Passage, he said. For the last decade, Oceans North partnered with Pond Inlet's Mittimatalik Hunter Trappers Organization (MHTO) and the California-based Scripps Institution of Oceanography to study how narwhal react to ship noise in Eclipse Sound, near Pond Inlet, where they return each summer to feed in deep, plentiful waters. According to the new study, narwhal numbers in Eclipse Sound in summer appear to have declined by about 90 per cent in the last two decades, from an estimated 20,200 animals in 2004 to 2,081 animals in 2021. Ootoowak calls the change over the years "sad." As a teenager, his dad would take him on long trips to hunt and live off the land. The waters were so plentiful that sleep would be an issue. "You're just constantly hunting and watching and enjoying the views of hundreds and hundreds of narwhal pass by," he said. "I want the later generations to see what I saw," he said. The researchers also state that between 2015 to 2019, there was a 384 per cent increase in the number of vessels transiting through the Eclipse Sound — with 80 per cent of those vessels connected to regional mining activity, and the other 20 per cent to tourism. Inuit hunters in the region were the first to notice the changes in narwhal surface behaviour and population numbers as the first shipments of ore went out from Baffinland's Mary River Mine in 2015, said Kristin Westdal, science director at Oceans North and another of the report's co-authors. She said narwhal were spending less time diving, a behaviour usually indicative of feeding, and changing direction of travel when they encounter a ship. The data can help answer the question of how much noise is too much for the animals, she said. "It's interesting and also alarming when you can pinpoint that position at which the animals stop talking or disappear from that habitat," she said. The research will inform the interim management plan for Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, as well as future protected areas, according to Westdal. She said it will also be used by the Nunavut Impact Review Board when looking at projects like the Mary River Mine. Studying echolocation The researchers used echolocation clicks of narwhals and satellite data to measure the distance of ships from their recorders. They analyzed how narwhal responded to the sound of ships passing through the area. "These echolocation clicks are associated with important functions like foraging, finding food or navigating," said Joshua Jones, a project scientist overseeing the research with Oceans North and the MHTO. Previous studies found impacts within 10 kilometres of ships, and "strong avoidance" among narwhals of areas within one kilometre of passing ships, the study states. The new research suggests narwhals are even more sensitive to sound than other species they've been compared to such as killer whales or dolphins, and show behavioural changes when ships are within 20 kilometres, said Jones. Narwhals are sensitive to noise below 1 kHz, said Jack Ewing, staff research associate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California in San Diego and another of the report's co-authors. That's a lower pitch than previous research has suggested the animals were senstive to. Narhwals also react to broadband sound pressure levels well below 120 dB, Ewing said.
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
CBC Igalaaq - July 28, 2025 42 minutes ago Duration 30:06
CBC Igalaaq - July 28, 2025 News Duration 30:06 Viewers from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are kept up to date by daily current events and news from the Inuit world
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Vancouver police investigating RCMP shooting of Clyde River, Nunavut, man
The Vancouver Police Department is investigating the Nunavut RCMP after they shot and killed a man in Clyde River last week. The RCMP said in a statement posted to social media Sunday that Vancouver police are now in the community and have begun their investigation. The man died on Thursday. In a news release the next day, RCMP said they were called to a residence after hearing reports that multiple shots had been fired from the building. In the news release, RCMP said that when officers arrived at the scene, they found an adult man with a firearm. The man was shot during a confrontation with police, the RCMP said. Some residents streamed the confrontation on TikTok. Vancouver Police are also asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or captured it on video, to contact the Clyde River detachment. The RCMP said they won't be commenting further.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., marks milestone in $54-million shoreline project
Social Sharing Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Mayor Erwin Elias wants his community to stay exactly where it is. "The biggest goal is to try not to move the community at the end of the day," said Elias on Saturday. "Mother nature will decide that though." Tuktoyaktuk has just celebrated the completion of its shoreline revetment project, which laid down boulders and concrete along the shorelines of the community and the small island protecting the harbour from the ocean. The project, which started two years ago, cost $54 million and was funded by the federal government. Some delays sourcing the gravel caused a slower first season, but the crews were able to complete the project this year. Boulders were driven in from quarries near Inuvik. The project saw trucks driving the highway day and night to complete the work. Elias said he's proud that the work done for the project was all local and the hamlet got funding directly from the federal government. "I think we have proven a point, that we can complete a big project like this. [It's] so significant. We can do this as long as we have the support," said Elias. "This is an amazing accomplishment especially for a small community." Northwest Territories Sen. Margaret Dawn Anderson agrees that the project is a great accomplishment for the community. "This project isn't just about infrastructure, it's about safeguarding our way of life, our culture and the land that sustained our people for generations," said Anderson. She said the community has seen the damages of erosion and climate change since the 1950s. "For us, this isn't a theoretical exercise. It's about protecting our families, our homes and our future," said Anderson. To mark the occasion, members of the community and stakeholders were invited to a boat tour of the shoreline Saturday where guides gave information about the project. "We wanted the community members to come out in boats to see it, so they could see the work that was done on the Tuk island," said Elias.
CBC
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
True sovereignty
Amidst all the buzz about the future of the Canadian Arctic, some Nunavummiut believe there's one voice missing — the young generation of Inuit who call this land home. Your browser does not support the video tag. Pause By Samuel Wat Jul. 27, 2025 Gazing at the land and water surrounding Apex Beach, Iqaluit's Manu Kunuk reflects on how his home in the Arctic has become a focal point for geopolitical tensions. There's a lot of uncertainty around the world right now, but if there's one thing he's sure about, that's the need for Inuit — and especially youth — to be at the heart of Arctic policy. 'We're the future of the land — we're going to be the next leaders,' he said. Like many Nunavummiut, Kunuk is still trying to learn about the true meaning of Arctic sovereignty, but he believes it starts with protecting the land and the people living on it. From a colonial perspective, sovereignty in Canada's North is often tied to military exercises, major infrastructure projects and defence spending — actions the government takes to show its control of the vast region. Less commonly explored is how Nunavut's communities and the people who live there are already at the heart of Arctic sovereignty. Nolan Qamanirq, from Arctic Bay, doesn't believe there is a word in Inuktitut that truly describes sovereignty, and it's hard to talk about land ownership because his ancestors didn't believe in that. 'The way the term is used today, especially in Ottawa and in places in Iqaluit, it really feels hollow. It's about military presence, mining approvals, transportation corridors. It's really not about what Inuit and communities prioritize,' he said. images expandAlassua Hanson set out on a Students on Ice expedition in the Arctic in 2016. This is one of several avenues she believes helps empower youth to become future leaders. The way the Canadian government is currently trying to reaffirm its borders in the Arctic makes Iqaluit's Alassua Hanson think back to the country's colonial history. 'I find the federal government does control Arctic sovereignty, in a way, because they did try to claim Nunavut before with the missionaries. And Inuit in general were trying to stay on their own land,' she said. These days, Hanson sees an increasing number of meetings, forums and summits about Arctic sovereignty. She believes some of those discussions should also happen inside the classroom and in youth groups. 'I think a lot of youth should be present or should be knowledgeable about ongoing things for Arctic sovereignty. And I don't think a lot of it is taught in school at all,' she said. Giving back to the community Three of Canada's main parties made military announcements in Iqaluit as part of their election campaign blitz earlier this year, but not all of those pledges involved consultation with local leaders. Nunavut's Premier, P.J. Akeeagok said he only learned about the Conservatives' Arctic announcement the day of, and he stressed the importance of consultations. Part of the Liberal government's own announcement in March was to establish three new military hubs in the North, with Iqaluit set to be home to one of them. At the time, the Department of National Defence said the hubs will consist of airstrips, logistics facilities and equipment and are intended to support military aircraft operations and also serve as storage for equipment and spare parts. 'Sovereignty isn't proven by planting a flag or opening a port. It's proven by a community's ability to feed itself, govern itself, and pass on knowledge without interference.' Nolan Qamanirq To many Canadian leaders, Iqaluit is a strategic location for missions in the Arctic. It has a functional airport and seaport that can accommodate both the navy and air force, for example, and it is also home to one of Canada's forward operating locations, which supports temporary missions. Yet Kunuk says he often struggles to find information about Arctic sovereignty and updates to what's happening in the territory. If the Canadian government is serious about sovereignty initiatives, he would like to see more information publicly shared about security developments. 'Hopefully community consultations, maybe even more training [if there is] supposed to be a military base here,' he said. Bringing Inuit into the conversation Despite all the talk, Hanson doesn't see much of a military presence in Nunavut. And when there is, she said she often doesn't see Inuit involved. She said she knows very little about what happens up in Alert, Nunavut, for example — the location of Canada's northernmost military outpost. She knows of a few people who head up there occasionally for work, but very few of them are Inuit. When there are members of the military in town, or people visiting for some Arctic security conference, she hasn't seen those visitors engaging much with the community. 'They could be more involved. They could provide food hampers, they could do a workshop on the meeting and what they're doing here. They could be present in the community rather than holding five day long meetings or get an opportunity to hear from the locals,' she said. She adds that youth should get the opportunity to hear about the results of the work these travellers are doing in the community. Creating global citizens Empowering Canada's future leaders has been a lifelong passion for Geoff Green. He founded Students on Ice (SOI) 25 years ago, which organizes educational expeditions — combining science and traditional knowledge — for youth to learn more about the Arctic. Talking about military spending and nation-building infrastructure projects is all well and good, he said, but he wonders where the investment is for youth. 'You're building a house of cards if you're not also investing in youth … they're going to be the ones we need for an upskilled workforce, and the leadership that's needed,' he said. In his view, a big part of youth empowerment comes from investments in education, plus programs to connect with the land and other youth around the world. He said there are more opportunities for youth nowadays compared to when he first founded SOI, but it's imperative that Canada builds on that. 'So engaging with youth from other parts of the world, seeing their worldviews, their knowledge bases, and having those friendships and relationships formed [early] are critical. We need global youth addressing global issues together,' he said. 'It's an investment in experiential education, which is truly one of the most proven and most powerful forms of education.' Kunuk echoes that sentiment, having been a delegate to international forums in the past, including to the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland last year. 'It really opens the doors for me, especially being here in Nunavut, in an isolated community and territory,' he said. images expandFor Manu Kunuk, Arctic sovereignty means ensuring the people living in the region are healthy and well. No flag or port can replace true sovereignty Ultimately, Qamanirq believes Arctic sovereignty can only exist if Canada recognizes the true priorities of northern communities. 'Sovereignty isn't proven by planting a flag or opening a port," he said. 'It's proven by a community's ability to feed itself, govern itself, and pass on knowledge without interference.' 'I don't think we need more youth leadership programs that teach us how to behave like bureaucrats. We need more programs that teach us our rights in our language, that explain what was negotiated in the land claims and what was left out," he added. Qamanirq also calls on Canada to be more open to partnerships with other countries in the circumpolar world, who share similar interests and challenges. 'If there was a serious attitude about sovereignty in the Arctic, [Canada] would let Inuit strengthen ties across the Arctic without forcing national policy filters. These connections are older than the borders and we shouldn't have to ask permission to remember them.' About the Author Footer Links My Account Profile CBC Gem Newsletters Connect with CBC Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Mobile RSS Podcasts Contact CBC Submit Feedback Help Centre Audience Relations, CBC P.O. 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